REVIEW: Beach Please (PARADISE BAY SERIES Book 6) by Melanie Summers
A hilarious and heartwarming story that’ll have you snort-laughing, swooning, and sighing with happiness…
Lola Gordon’s dreams of a thriving surf shop were shattered when her ex vanished with all the money in their business account, leaving her on the brink of losing everything. With the bank set to auction off her beloved shop and its contents in just six weeks, Lola is desperate to find a solution.
When news of an exciting treasure hunt sweeps through the island, Lola sees it as her last chance to reclaim her surf shop and rebuild her life. There’s just one obstacle standing in her way: she needs a boat.
Enter Aidan Clarke, a disillusioned Canadian expat seeking solace in the tranquil shores of Paradise Bay. Having recently discovered his fiancée’s infidelity with his brother, Aidan wants to be alone. So when his parents decide to visit and hunt for a house near his seaside cottage, Aidan realizes he must create an illusion of happiness.
He proposes a deal to Lola: he’ll provide the boat she needs if she agrees to pose as his live-in girlfriend.
As Lola and Aidan set sail on their adventure, the lines between fiction and reality blur, and their fake affection starts to feel all too genuine.
Join Lola and Aidan as their dreams are tested, their hearts are mended, and a sun-kissed romance awaits…
Dear Ms. Summers,
By now I’m pretty sure what I’m going to get when I read one of these “Paradise Bay” books – light, breezy, (mostly) fun. There will be a little angst, some realization of what a character truly wants from life but, really nothing too heavy. In fact, these are perfect beach reads.
Lola (and she’s heard about every L-O-L-A joke and comment, thank you) was a hard-working businesswoman, living her dream of owning and running a surf shop. Then her (she should have seen the signs that were there all along) boyfriend, hereafter to be known as The Dirtbag, embezzled all the shop funds and left Lola high and dry. Now she’s got a final letter from the bank announcing when her (now padlocked) shop will be auctioned for the amount owing. No relationships from here on out, nope, not for Lola.
Aiden was also living a dream but this turned into a nightmare when he discovered his brother (his own brother!) in bed with Aiden’s fiancee. Scratch that engagement. So he ditched his IT life in Canada and bought a catamaran with plans for quick hook-ups with female tourists. Now, don’t think that Aiden is sleazy – he has strict standards and limits such as the ability to give consent and not being in a relationship. So far … well, it’s not going exactly like he’d hoped but he does love the warm weather.
Life throws the two of them together when Aiden gets drunk (he really does have good cause) and ends up at a local bar on trivia night. Lola and a friend see his drunken ass home but the next morning two things will toss them back into each other’s lives. Aiden’s really overly intrusive parents decide to come see him with (a brother warns him) plans to buy a place near Aiden to keep an eye on him plus let his mom matchmake for him and Lola discovers a way she might quickly earn the money she needs to save her shop. With each doing the other a solid, can they discover that one bad relationship (each) doesn’t mean that true love can’t be found?
Usually I’m not that great a fan of the fake-dating trope but here it was not being done for inheritance reasons and over fairly quickly. It also gave Aiden and Lola a chance to see the other as they really are. Eek. Aiden’s a neat freak while Lola adores her throw cushions, potted plants, bathroom clutter … In a moment of frustration Lola says something to her best friend over the phone which Aiden happens to hear. Points that she womans up and admits it was a terrible thing to say and offers a true apology. With the air cleared, they continue the week of fake dating and realize that the other is actually a nice person.
As they begin to work on Lola’s part of their bargain, it’s fairly clear that they’re already halfway in love. Aiden’s determination to help Lola rob her own store (it’s complicated) and hers to keep him from the risk of prison time should they get caught (stop arguing, you two and just go break in!) totally gives it away before they succumb to the hot sex.
As with the previous series books, I knew that there would be another twist or two and there is. Actually, I liked said twists but thought that either the PI Lola hired was an idiot or in cahoots with The Dirtbag. Kudos for having Lola and Aiden work out their issues before attempting to get back together. I liked the way Lola is able to save her shop but I think the next few family reunions with Aiden’s family might be a bit awkward. Just saying. B-
~Jayne
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I know nothing about this series–or, worse, I don’t remember hearing about this series–but you make it sound fun. Fun is good. BTW, your link to the Paradise Bay books is broken. Off to delve deeper. Thanks.
@Darlynne: Link has been fixed. Thanks for letting me know.